tenet group1irste seminar information and communication technology (ict) and indian railways ashok...

TeNeT Group 1 IRSTE Seminar

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Indian Railways

Ashok Jhunjhunwala, TeNeT group, IIT [email protected]

June 2003


What can ICT do?

ICT is known to have made immense impact in booking of railway tickets can make an impact in

service management tracking movement of goods control of wagons passenger amenities

can improve decision making and management

Not as well understood that ICT can significantly enhance throughput on existing Railway Network

enhancing Carrying Capacity provide voice and data services for passengers


Carrying Capacity and Throughput

Total Carrying Capacity (people and goods) of Railways is inadequate considering large Indian population capacity increase has not kept pace with economic growth rail transport more energy efficient as compared to road transport

Train throughput can be enhanced by adding tracks

expensive (Rs 2 Crores per Km), time consuming

by enhanced signaling (using ICT) throughput enhancement by a factor of 5 possible on existing tracks while retaining / enhancing safety


dual track

block

sectionjunction

run- through section

Indian Railways: some facts

inter-station distance = 6 - 8 kms major stations are junctions or are located about 100 - 150 kms apart run through section 100 to 150 kms or 15 to 20 stations super fast / express trains stop only at major stations; goods train stop at very

few stations; local passenger trains stop at all stations


Throughput bottlenecks

Throughput is limited in run-through sections due to only one train can occupy one block section at a time slow down while approaching stations signal operation time efficiency in planning train movements and conveying commands

Train throughput is also severely affected by slow down due to failure of track in one direction bottlenecks at junctions and yards


50

44.844

31.8

30

15.2

13.1

12.4

1st

IBS2nd

IBS3rd

IBS4th

IBS5th

IBS6th IBS

7th

IBS8th

IBS

% in

crea

se in

thro

ughp

ut

throughput enhanced by a factor of 1.5

Overcoming Block Section Bottleneck

Split block section and put signaling between station two trains between two stations intermediate block signaling (IBS)


Bottleneck at approach of a station

driver acts (stops or slows down) based on signal observed not knowing whether one needs to

stop at main line run through stop before entering the station stop on loop line

slows down as soon as he / she approaches a station approach speed depends upon

– quantum and quality of information presented

– location and time at which information presented

can signaling information be downloaded in drivers cabin? may increase throughput by a factor of 2


Operations Bottleneck

Station master needs proving of last vehicles before operating signals increase in operating time

significantly reduces the throughput

especially as run time in a block decreases

use of axle counter for proving last vehicle can improve line capacity by factor of 1.4

No

of t

rain

s pe

r da

y in

one

dir

ecti

on

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

03 5 10 15 20

top

minutes0.5

1

2

3

4

5

Effect of operating time on line capacity: Total running time in critical block section excluding operating time (minutes)


Improving planning of train movements

Command and control of a train is centralised Section Controller controls movement of all trains in section (150 Kms) operations of all signals is decentralised at stations

uses voice communication on an omni-bus telephone line between Controller and Station Master used to convey control

– 12 telephone calls for moving a train from one station to another

– results into reduced efficiency

Visual or intra-net link between Controller and Station Master can improve efficiencies and enhance throughput by at least a factor of 1.5


Bi-directional Signaling

For dual track each track has signaling designed for train movement in one direction Quite often trains in one direction exceed those in other

possible to move two trains in same direction if tracks hadbi-directional signaling

fast trains could overtake slow trains on other tracks– in motion precedence

On failure of one track trains move in both directions on the other track with hand and paper

signaling– very slow

Introduction of bi-directional Signaling is estimated to enhance throughput by a factor of 1.3


Bottlenecks at Yards and Junctions

large amount of train movements between yard and platforms slow down approaching trains severe congestion

better design of signals and junctions and better coordinated (centralised) train control in a station can go a long way to over come the bottleneck


Technologies to Enhance Throughput

Known

Intermediate Block Signaling technology known

Axle Counter technology known

bi-directional Signaling linked to signaling download

Centralised operation of Signaling at a station requires re-layout of signaling on

a station

New

Downloading Signaling information to driver’s cabin wireless reliability and error-free

Signaling Command and Control fibre network connecting

stations in a section GPS and wireless upload display and intelligent decision

making


Indian Railways spans all over the country

Railways have stations (Infrastructure) every 7 to 10 kms throughout the length and breadth of the country


Fibre Backbone

Deployment of Fibre backbone on railway tracks

can provide the largest alternative backbone for the country

enormous bandwidth between metros

drops at almost all stations wherever there is no drop, DSL on quad cable, buried between stations

can be used for data communications

Already being done by RAILTEL


Fibre Network can enhance Signaling

Fibre backbone can be used to provide a Signaling Command and Control Network for each Section

displays at Section Controllers’ desk and Station Master’s desk linked so as to significantly reduce voice communication

will be significantly enhanced if train position information tracked by a GPS in each engine uploaded on wireless to Section Controller and Station Master


Wireless Connection to moving trains

GSM is the most cost-effective solution GSM Base station at towers at every fourth station would provide

universal coverage repeaters at hot spots

Data communication possible on GSM/GPRS no need for GSM-R can adopt GSM with an application layer software

– many companies in India can provide the solution as a overlay on GSM

Railways can use some reserved frequencies for signaling and share infrastructure and frequency with cellular operators for passenger services


Railway Line fibre/quad cable

Station

7-10 kms

GSM and corDECT

corDECT

corDECT kiosk in villages

corDECT

Train communication on GSM

802.11, GPS and kiosk on train

GSM and corDECT

Station

802.11

station kiosk

Integrated Communication System for Railways


Passenger Services

Voice communications GSM is the best solution Railways can work out a deal with Cell operators, or RAILTEL can

float a Cellular Operator company

Data Communication GPRS or corDECT can provide data communication to moving train

provide a Internet kiosk on a train provide 802.11 wireless connection in the train for passengers using

laptops

802.11 wireless connection also at stations for passengers to download and upload when train stops (at low cost)

fibre provides backbone


But Railways can do more

7000 stations covering length and breadth of country a station every 7-10 kms Rapid deployment of Internet kiosk at each station 802.11 communication on station

providing Internet Service to passengers on platforms and parked trains

But the network can also be used to provide communication to villages around station corDECT can be used to provide Internet and telephony to villages

in 10/25 Kms around stations


Railway Line fibre/quad cable

Station

7-10 kms

GSM and corDECT

corDECT

corDECT kiosk in villages

corDECT

Train communication on GSM

802.11, GPS and kiosk on train

GSM and corDECT

Station

802.11

station kiosk

Integrated Communication System for Railways


Conclusion

ICT can significantly enhance throughput and train capacity Use of Intermediate Block Signaling, Better information to drivers,

Axle counter introduction, Bi-directional signaling, Centralised control at Junction / yards, Intranet link between Controllers and station master

can enhance capacity by almost a factor of 5

Voice and Internet Services to passengers can earn revenue for Railways/ Railtel

Railways can contribute to providing Internet Services to Rural India

tenet group1irste seminar information and communication technology (ict) and indian railways ashok...

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